WUF13: Baku is ready to welcome guests

The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) will be held in Baku on May 17-22 on the theme "Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities." Hosting WUF13 in Baku, organized jointly by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the Government of Azerbaijan, will once again focus the world's attention on our country, writes the newspaper "Kaspi."

More than 30,000 participants from 178 countries have confirmed their attendance at the event. Within its framework, the unprecedented model of reconstruction and urban development being implemented by the Azerbaijani state in Karabakh and East Zangezur will be presented to the world community. Session participants will also familiarize themselves with the "smart city" and "smart village" concepts being applied in the territories liberated from occupation, as well as the work on transforming these regions into a green energy zone as advanced examples in the field of modern urbanization and environmental restoration.

WUF13 is also notable for the fact that for the first time in the history of this international event, a Leaders' Summit will be held on its sidelines.

Global Housing Crisis

Holding such forums is important because approximately 3 billion people worldwide need improved housing conditions.

The decision to grant Baku the right to host WUF13 this year is a recognition of several key factors. Baku has already established itself as a reliable venue for large-scale international events—from Eurovision and the European Games to the Formula 1 Grand Prix and COP29. That is, there is ready infrastructure and well-established logistics chains.

According to specialists, Baku possesses a unique urban landscape. It is a vivid example of combining rapid modern urbanization with the preservation of historical heritage (Icherisheher) and large-scale renovation ("White City"). UN-Habitat experts consider Baku a living laboratory of urban development.

Moreover, Azerbaijan is actively promoting the agenda of sustainable "smart cities," especially in the context of territorial restoration. Holding the forum here makes it possible to engage countries of the Caspian region and Central Asia in the dialogue.

At the same time, hosting WUF requires serious guarantees and funding from the host country. And in this regard, Azerbaijan demonstrates a strong political will to promote the global urban agenda.

In short, Baku was chosen because the city knows how to welcome guests, is changing rapidly, and is ready to invest in discussing the future of the world's megacities.

A Key International Case

At WUF13, Azerbaijan will present both large-scale urban development projects of the capital and innovative solutions already being implemented across the country.

The "compact city" development strategy will be demonstrated, which includes the expansion of green zones, parks, and coastal areas in accordance with UN standards.

Specially prepared for the forum is a digital transport management map and a "digital twin" model of Baku for simulating urban loads and optimizing traffic. Azerbaijan will also present a plan to convert 12 cities and towns to the Smart City format by 2035. As part of the forum, a platform is planned to be opened where 14 startup projects from 10 countries will present solutions for the global housing crisis and smart city management.

The experience of building "smart cities" and "smart villages" in Karabakh and East Zangezur will become a key international case. Experts will discuss how to create sustainable infrastructure from scratch using solar panels and automated waste processing systems.

Before the forum itself, an "Urban Week" will be held, featuring thematic pedestrian routes (Urban Routes), exhibitions, and discussions with the participation of city residents. The events will extend beyond the capital—urbanism festivals have already taken place in cities such as Khankendi, Ganja, Sheki, and Mingachevir.

The main international conference on urban issues—the World Urban Forum (WUF)—was established in 2002 by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to address one of the most pressing global challenges of our time—rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policy.

The forum serves as a non-legislative technical event where experts can exchange their views in the years when the UN-Habitat Governing Council does not hold its meetings, and once every two years in different host cities and countries, it brings together participants from hundreds of countries around the world.

WUF13 Boulevard

On May 12, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev personally reviewed the work being carried out in connection with the 13th session of the World Urban Forum. It should be noted that the venue area, including the Baku Olympic Stadium and the general operational coverage zone formed around it, covers 53 hectares. The current level of preparation indicates that both the large flow of forum participants and the numerous parallel events and receptions of international delegations have been properly planned.

At the event, alongside the six official UN languages—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish—simultaneous interpretation into Azerbaijani and Turkish will be provided.

And notably, an open-air WUF13 Boulevard has been created for forum participants. This zone covers an area of 2.5 hectares and is designed for the free movement of participants, their relaxation, the use of catering services, and for them to experience the atmosphere of the urban environment at the event venue. The boulevard area serves as an open public space and a transition to the Expo zone.

In the overall planning of the forum venue, components of official ceremonies were given special consideration. For example, the Flag Square has been prepared for official ceremonies and is surrounded by fortress wall motifs to recreate an urban atmosphere. Urban transport interchange centers, electric buses, taxi services, and airport transfers have also been readied and integrated into the event's overall transport plan.

All of this indicates that Baku is ready to welcome